Are You Suffering From Presbyopia?

Did you ever wonder why older people prefer books with larger text? As time passes, the lens of your eye is likely to become more rigid, making it more difficult to focus on near objects. This is known as presbyopia. And it's universal.

People with untreated presbyopia tend to hold books, magazines, newspapers, and menus at arm's length in order to focus properly. Additionally, engaging in other tasks at close range, for example, needlepoint or handwriting, can also cause eyestrain and discomfort. For people who are ready to do something about presbyopia, you have a few alternatives available, which take your eyewear preferences into account.

One of the most common preferences is reading glasses, though these are mostly efficient for those who wear contacts or for people who don't already need glasses for issues with distance vision. You can get these at lots of stores, but you shouldn't purchase a pair until you have spoken with an optometrist. Too often inexpensive reading glasses may be helpful for short blocks of reading time but they can eventually lead to fatigue when people wear them for a long time.

If you already have glasses, think about bifocal or multi-focal corrective lenses, or the popular progressive addition lenses (PALs). PALs and multi-focals are eyeglasses with multiple points of focus; the bottom part has the prescription for seeing nearby objects. If you already wear contacts, it's worthwhile to talk to your eye care professional to discuss multifocal contact lenses, or a treatment approach known as monovision. Monovision is when each eye is fitted with a different kind of lens; one for distance vision and one to correct close vision.

Since your sight changes as time goes on, it's fair to anticipate adjusting your prescription periodically. Presbyopia is seen in people even after refractive surgery, so it is important to understand all the options before making decisions about your vision care.

It's best to speak to your optometrist for an informed view on the matter. We can help you deal with presbyopia and your changing eye sight in a way that is best for you.